Granville Elliott facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Granville Elliott
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with permission from
The Eliot Sisters Collection |
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| Nickname(s) | Joseph Granville (Cotoco) Elliott |
| Born | 7 October 1713 Byfeld House, Barnes, Surrey, England |
| Died | 10 October 1759 (aged 46) Rodheim an der Bieber, Gießen, Hesse, Germany |
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Army |
| Rank | Major General |
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Granville Elliott (born October 7, 1713 – died October 10, 1759) was a brave British military officer. He served with honor in several European armies. Later, he joined the British Army. He was a Major-General and even became a Count. He was badly hurt during the Battle of Minden. Sadly, he passed away from his injuries a few weeks later.
Early Life and Education
Granville Elliott was born on October 7, 1713. His birthplace was Byfeld House in Barnes, Surrey, England. His father was Major-General Roger Elliott. His mother was Charlotte Elliot.
Granville was part of the Eliot military family. He was baptized on October 27, 1713. His godparents were important people of the time.
When Granville was less than a year old, his father died. His sister, Catherine Elliott, was born soon after. Their mother and her new husband, Captain Thomas Burroughs, raised them. Later, Granville was looked after by his uncle, Colonel William Elliot.
In 1725, Granville went to Dr. Dunster's Academy in London. In 1730, he started studying law. He attended the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.
Military Career in Europe
By 1732, Granville Elliott was serving in the army. He worked for Karl Philipp, the Elector Palatine of the Rhine. On March 7, 1735, he became a Chamberlain. This was an important position for Emperor Charles VI. He also received the title of Count of Morhange.
To get married, Granville changed his religion to Catholicism. He also took the new first name Joseph. This caused some problems with his mother's family. They were Calvinists.
Granville tried to prove his family's connection to the Eliot family of Port Eliot. He wanted to be recognized as a legal relative. He had a special family tree made. This helped him become known as Count Eliot. He was called Graf Eliot von Port-Eliot.
On October 29, 1736, Elliott became a colonel. He led the Carabinier Regiment in 1737. He also led the Dragoons Regiment in 1738. In 1737, he was made a cavalry general. This was for the States General of the Netherlands.
A few years later, he worked for King Stanislaus I of Poland. The King was living in exile in Lunéville. On April 22, 1745, Granville was promoted again. He became a major-general of cavalry for the Elector Palatine. He became a lieutenant-general in 1746 and 1748.
Granville's wife, Jeanne Thérèse du Han, passed away on May 7, 1748. This changed his life greatly. He left his older children with their French relatives. He then returned to Britain. He went back to his original religion. He also fixed his relationships with his mother's family.
British Military Career
Back in England, Granville Elliott married again. He married Elizabeth Duckett on September 3, 1750. This happened in London. However, he soon went back to serve the Netherlands. He was made a major-general of the Scotch Brigade. His first child with Elizabeth was born in the Netherlands. Later children were born at their home in Kew.
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On April 21, 1758, Elliott became a major-general in the British Army. He was also made colonel of the 61st Regiment of Foot. That summer, he was part of an army trip to St Malo. From July 5 to August 31, 1758, he also served in the Dutch Army.
The Seven Years' War had begun. Elliott's knowledge of European warfare was very important. In early 1759, he returned to Europe. He was part of a large British army. At the Battle of Minden on August 1, 1759, he led the Cavalry Regiment. He fought bravely and was seriously wounded.
He went to Rodheim an der Bieber in Germany to recover. But he died there nine weeks later. He passed away on October 10, 1759, from his injuries. He was buried with military honors in a local church. Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick attended his funeral. A special plaque was put in the church by his family.
Granville Elliott's ideas helped the British Army. Light Cavalry was added to the army because of his advice.
Family Life
Granville Elliott was married two times.
His first marriage was on March 15, 1735, in Mannheim. He married Jeanne Thérèse du Han, Comtesse de Martigny. They had at least six sons and one daughter:
- Marie Charlotte Elliott (1736–1785)
- Stanislaus François Xavier Elliott (born 1737)
- Amable Gaspard Antoine Elliott (1738–1814), who became the 2nd Count Elliott
- Charles Phillippe Elliott (born 1740)
- Paul Antoine Elliott (1741–1741)
- François Maximillian Elliott (born 1741)
- Jean-Baptiste-François Elliott (born 1747)
His first wife died on May 7, 1748.
His second marriage was on September 3, 1750. He married Elizabeth Duckett in London. They had at least three sons and three daughters:
- Mary Frances Elliott (1751–1752)
- William Roger Elliott (1753–1753)
- Francis Perceval Eliot (1755–1818)
- Catherine Frances Elliott (1757–1757)
- John Lewis Elliott (1758–1819)
- Elizabeth Georgiana Elliott (1759–1759)
Of his children from his second marriage, Francis Perceval Eliot continued the family's military tradition. Francis also got back in touch with his French half-siblings.
When Granville Elliott died in 1759, his titles went to his oldest living son, Amable Gaspard Antoine Elliott. Amable later chose his half-brother Francis Perceval Eliot to take over his title. However, Francis did not use the title.
